Life in His Hand

Being Adventist means being different. Going against the grain. From our day of worship (Saturday) to our diet (typically vegetarian) to our choice of entertainment and several of our beliefs--we are different. Yes, we are the same, in many ways, with other Christian denominations--but it's the differences that tend to cause us to stand out and be noticed. I think unless some types of people were born into the church, they might have a hard time being so unconventional. Seems people want to just blend in a lot of the time. In my church, that's quite impossible to do, unless you see no one besides fellow Adventists. Yes, we stick out like a sore thumb. For me, this was quite natural. I've always been a rebel. I never fit into the mainstream. I was a heavy-metal kid and always felt different. It was okay with me and I was probably proud of that fact--who wanted to be like them anyway? So I found my niche--other misfits like myself. And life went on. Until Jesus go...

Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.   But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32, 33 We can confess Christ with our mouths but deny Him by the way we live our lives. We claim to be Christians. But what does that really mean? What is a Christian? A Christ follower. A representative of Christ, an example of His transforming power and grace. So how do we make sure what we claim matches who we are? And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:18 As we spend time with the Lord, in prayer, in His Word meditating on His character, we become more like Him. That is why it is so important to make having our own private devotions a top priority. If  we don't "behold" Christ, how will we bec...